P griffith



Aug. 29, 1939. c. P. GRIFFITH 21,185

AIR RELEASE. MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS I Original Filed Aug. 27, 1928' 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Aug. 29, 193 9,

c. P'. GRIFFITH AIR RELEASE MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS 7 Original Filed Aug. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Reissued Aug. 29, 1939 AIR RELEASE MECHANISM FOR DISPENS- ING APPARATUS Clement P. Grlillth, Fort Wayne, lnd l mr to S. F. Bowser & Company, Incorporated, Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation oi Indiana Original No. 2,044,721, dated June 18, 1936, Se-

rial No. 580,143, December 10, 1931, which is a continuation of Serial No. 302,195, August :7, 1928. Application for reissue July 1, 1839, Serial No. 282,501

20 Claims. (Cl. 221-95) 7 My invention relates to air release mechanism, particularly adapted for use in connection with apparatus for dispensing gasoline, although it .may have ageneral application.

Oneof its objects is the provision of improved and efllcient means for releasing air from a gasoline supply line and combining such air release mechanism with anautomatic operating valve for cutting oil the flow of gasoline 'until the air has been released in the gasoline line.

the meter against the measurement ofair which may come from either leaks in the pipe line, or

when the gasoline or other liquid in the container has been exhausted.

Still another object of my invention resides in the provision "of an air release mechanism fora liquid dispensing system of the type wherein liquid is constantly forced through a displacement type of meter mechanism to operate the same and through the dispensing line when the valve controlled nozzle therefor is open, and wherein an air separator is inserted in the liquid flow line in advance of the meter, the air separator ineluding a restricted combined air and liquid discharge port which because of its restricted cross section causesthe main volume of liquid to pass to the meter while. permitting air to pass freely therethrough at all times and permitting only a restricted but constantly flowing stream of liquid to pass therethrough during the dispensing operation, and wherein additional separating means connected to this restricted port is provided for separating the air and liquid passing through said restricted port, said separating means including a portion constantly open to the atmosphere to discharge the separated air to atmosphere and including a recovery line for constantly returning the recovered liquid back to the system, the recoveryv line including means for preventing air from the atmosphere passing to the recovery lin during the dispensing operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combined air release and shut-off valve mechanism for effecting the release of air from a liquid pressure on both sides of the main valve and thereby facilitate the opening of such main valve.

One of the objects of my present invention is the provision of an air release placed at an elevation above the sight discharge and the meter whereby to keep them in proper timed conditionat all times.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims. I

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 illustrates asystem f dispersing apparatus embodying my improvements;

Fig; 2 is a sectional elevation of the check-valve for controlling the supply of gasoline to liquid holding tank;

Fig. 3 is an elevatlonal view, partly in section,

showing the details of my combined air release and shut-oi! valve mechanism; and ldg. 4 is a sectional plan view taken on th line H of Pig. 3.

The air release mechanism herein disclosed functions equally as well when the liquid in the dispensing system is circulated by either a compressed air system, as shown in Fig. 1, or when supplied by any other type'of pumping mechanism desired. In the present instance I have shownthe'liquid circulating means as comprisinga compressed air system.

Referring to Fig. 1 showing the adaptation of my combined air release and shut-oi! mechanism to air pressure operated dispensing apparatus, 5 designates a tank which is adapted to be buried in the ground and it may be filled by means of the fill-pipe I with gasoline or other liquid which is to be dispensed and into which also flows the recovered liquid during the dispensing operation.

Preferably within the larger storage tank 5 and at the bottom thereof is a relatively smaller storagetanklfromwhichtheliquidtobedispensed is caused to pass through a'liquid flow line to the dispensing apparatus, and in the present instance, by air pressure delivered on top of the liquid contained within this tank I as hereinafter explained. when the pressure in the tank I is relieved, gasoline in the main supply tank 5.

may flow by gravity through the check-valve devicelintothesmallertank1.

In Fig. 2,! have illustrated the details of the construction of the check-valve device I. The valve element 0 toward the chamber II but prevents baekilow of the liquid from the smaller tank I into the tank I when air pressure is introduced intothe tank I. When the cap is removed the valve body I! may l e lifted out of the shown) to which the pipe I is connected. Ad-.

jacent the globe valve l5 may be located an air pressure reducing valve I] which may be set for an air pressure of approximately ten pounds per square inch in the supply pipe IS. The pressure gauge i9 may be located in the supply It so as to 3 be at the left of the air pressure reducing valve |l shown in Fig. 1; At the bottom of the pipe l5 at a relatively low position is a water trap with a petcock 2| 'at its lower end for the purpose oi removing the accumulated water. The water trap 25 and the air pressure reducing valve H are preferably located inside of the building, a wall of which is shown at 22, so that accumulated water cannot freeze. The apparatus shown to the left of the wall 22 may be outside of the building.

Connected to the pipe l5 above the water trap 25 is a pipe 23 to which are'connected the branch pipes 24 and 25 which lead upwardly to the uppermost connections of the controllingvalve mechanisms and 21 of the dispensing units 25 and 29, respectively. When the operating lever of the dispensing unit 25 is moved upwardly the valve 25 is operated to connect the source ofair pressure supply to the pipe 3| which is connected to the top of the tank 1. In the same manner, when the operating lever 32 of the dispensing unit 29 is moved upwardly the source of air pressure supply is connected to the pipe 33'and'through certain ports in the valve 25 to the pipe 3|. When the operating levers 35 and 32 are moved down to their horizontal positions shown in Fig. 1, the pipe 3| is connected through the valve mechanisms 25 and 21 to the pipe 34 which is connected to the vent pipe 35 leading from the top of the larger tank 5 to the air vent protector 35. Safety or air pressure relief, devices 31 and 35 may be placed so as to relieve the pressure in'the pipes 24 and 25 when pressure exceeds the set prede termined limit, for instance, fifteen pounds per square inch. I I

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by operating either of the levers 35 or 32 of the dispensing units, air pressure may be introliquid therein and when this occurs the valve ele- 'ment 9 shown in Fig. 2 will be automatically closed. When both levers 39 and are in their horizontal positions the pressure in the tank I will be relieved, because the pipe 3| will be connected through the valve mechanisms 25 and 21 to the pipe 35 which is vented to the atmosphere.

When this relief of pressure in the top of tank "I occursthe gasoline inthe tank 5 will flow by ravity through the passageway 39 into the chamber III as shown in'Flg. 2, thus replenishing the supply of gasoline in the tank -'I.

When the operating lever 3|! is moved upwardly the valve 4|) in the gasoline supply line will be opened and the air pressure on the liquid in the tank I will then cause the gasoline to how from the tank I to the nozzle 4| connected to-the end of the hose 42, provided the lever .43 is actuated by the operator to "open the valve located at 44 between thehose 42" and the nozzle 4|. Flow through the gasoline linewill be upwardly through the pipe 45 and the line valve to the pipe 41.

Theline valve .45 is a check-valve which opens upwardly from the pipe 45 toward the pipe 41 and prevents backflow from the pipe 41 to the pipe 45.

The flow of gasoline continues upwardly along the pipe 41 to the air release 45 which is preferably located above the sight discharges 49 and 55 of the dispensing units 25 and 29 whereby to keep them constantly primed with gasoline or other liquid. "The pipe 41 is connected to the port 5| of the casing 52 of the air release device 45. The

gasoline flowing into the port 5| strikes against the'semi-circular baille plate 53 so as to direct up- 'wardly any air entrapped in the pipe 41.

The top of the casing 52 is provided with a constantly'open but restricted vent opening 54 which is connected by air and liquid separating means comprising the downwardly slanting pipe I it will be noted that the air from the atmosphere cannot pass in through valve ports 9 and together with the gasoline passing there through into tank I because of the liquid seal between the lower end of pipe 35 and the entrance to the liquid supply tank I. This liquid seal is formed by the liquid containedin tank 5 thus forming effective means preventing atmospheric air reaching the supply line during dispensing. It will also be apparent that the stand pipe- 35 and particularly in connection with downwardly slanting pipe 55 forms an effective means connected to the restricted orifice 54 for permitting air and liquid discharging through port 54-to separate, the air upon sep in" the latter into the air release casing 52 and this .air will escape through the restricted vent '54 of the pipe 55 into the pipe 35. When sufflcient gasoline enters the casing 52, the float 55 therein will be lifted to cause the rod 51 at the 'bottom of the float ,to lift the pilot valve 55"oif its seat to open the port 59 at the center of the main valve 55. To the bottom of the pilot valve 58 is connected a stem 5| which is guided through a central bearing in the main valve and through the fixed bearing 62 at the center of a -'spider connected to the bottom of the valve casing 52. The port 59 may also be in the form of openings through a spider which is'connected to the main valve 59 and at the same time serves as a sliding bearing for the stem 5|. When the .pilot valve is lifted by the float 55, a flexible joint at 53 will permit free vertical movement of the stem 5|. when the pilot. valve 58 opens the port 59 the liquid flowing in the casing 52 through the port 59 toward the port 54 will equalize the pressure of the liquid above and below the main valve 55. This equalization of the pressure above and below the valve 59 will -vent 93 closed by a plug 94.

of the casing 52 to cause the float to rise, the

pilot valve 58 will first be opened and subsequently the main valve ill so'that gasoline or other liquid will flow simultaneously through the port 84 to the meter and also through the constantly open, restricted port 64 to pipe 55 to pipe 35 to tank 5. Limit stops 65 may be located on the inner walls of the casing 51 to limit the upward movement of the float 56 so that the latter will not close the vent 54. When desired, the screw-threaded plug 67 may be removed to permit drainage of accumulated sediment at the bottom of the casing 52. The casing 52 is preferably made in two sections detachably con-' nected together by means of the bolts 88 so that when desired, access may be had to the valves for cleaning and regrinding.

When the main valve 60 is fully open the gasoline is free to flow into the pipe 69 and thence upwardly through the branch pipes 10 and II. Hand-operated globe valves .12 and 13 control the upward flow of the gasoline from the pipes Ill and H to the screen filter devices 14 and 15. The gasoline continues upwardly through the pipes 16 and TI to the valves and 18, respectively. The pipes I9 and 80 lead upwardly from the valves 40 and 18 to the meters 81 and 82 which may be of the type shown inthe Blum Patent No. 1,423,597, granted July 25, 1922, for an improvement in meters. 7

After passing through the meters 81 and 82 the gasoline continues upwardly through the stand-pipes 83 and 84 to the sight discharges and and thence to the hoses l2 and 85. The free ends of the hose may be connected to a valve controlled nozzle such as shown at the lefthand side of the dispensing unit 85 in Fig. 1. This is the wet hose system, but a dry hose system may be used, in which event it is preferred to provide at 86 and 8'! manually operated valves.

The dispensing units 2B and 29 may be of that type having pointer and dial mechanism 88 and 89 operated by the meters BI and 82 with mechanism for re-setting the pointers to zero by means of the knobs 90 and 9|.

Extending to the bottom of tank 1 is a pipe 92, the upper end of which is provided with a When this plug is'removed soas to vent the pipe 92 to the atmosphere, air under pressure introduced into the tank I through the pipe 3| will be eflective in cleaning out the accumulated sediment in the bottom of the tank I. To effect this cleaning operation the valve I 5 may first be closed, the plug 94 then removed, and the valve l5 then slowly opened while one of the levers 30 or 32 is in its upper position.

It should be noted that an important function of the air release and shut-oil valve mechanism shown in Fig. 3 is to prevent the passage of air to either meter 8| or 82 if the delivery of the gasoline through either or both of the dispensing units 28 and 29 is of suilicient quantity to exhaust the gasoline in the auxiliary tarik I before it is replenished with gasoline. If such continuous operation of either or both of the dispensing units should take place the device 48 acts automatically to eifect a closure of the gasoline line by the closure of the valves 58 and 60, thereby preventing the flow of air into the meters 8! and 82 which maybe sumciently sensitive to cause the air to operate them if air were permitted to pass through them. It can readily be seen by referring to Fig. 1

that if the connection to the tank 7 from the source of air pressure supply continues after the tank I has insuilicient gasoline therein to cause flow thereof into the pipe 45, the air will flow through the latter and be vented by the device 48 to the atmosphere. I have above'pointed out the manner in which air is removed when entrapped in the pipes 45 and 41 after the tank I is substantially empty of gasoline and the pressure from the source of air pressure supply is cut off.

It should also be understood'that the total area of the pilot valve 58 combined with the main valve Ell is sufl'icient to enable the pressure which buildsup the inside of theair release to I hold these valves closed. The float is such that it does not possess suflicient buoyancy to lift both valves directly oif their seats if they are connected together as one valve controlling the port 64. The float 56 does have suificient buoyancy, however, to lift the pilot valve 58 oil its seat to permit the gasoline to flow through the passageway 59 to equalize the pressure above and below the main valve 60. The float 56 then has suincient buoyancy to carry upwardly both of the valves 58 and when the cross-pin strikes the bottom of the main valve 60.

It will thus be seenthat I have provided an air separator particularly adaptable for a liquid dispensing system of the type wherein liquid is passed through the liquid flow line by any suitable means, be it by air pressure or by any other liquid forcing means in common use, and wherein this liquid is delivered through the flow line and through the meter under pressure tooperate the meter, and to thence flow through the dispensing hose, past the valve-controlled nozzle thereof when the valve is opened. In this type of liquid dispensing apparatus I have inserted my air separator in the flow line in advance of the meter. This air separator includes a constantly. open but restricted port which functions to compel the main volume of liquid to pass out the flow line discharge port 64 to the meter, which will at the same time not only permit air constantly to pass through this restricted port 64, but will also permit a relatively smaller stream of liquid constantly to flow through the restricted port 64 during the dispensing operation. Furthermore, I provide this restricted port with a communieating means which permits the air and liquid passing through therestricted port to separate and this means includes a constantly open discharge to the atmosphere for discharging the separated air to atmosphere and the recovery line" being discharged directly to atmosphere and the line.

- Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details'and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and I wish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction. herein dis- 1 closed.

This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 302,195, filed August 27, 1928. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing system for liquids comprising a gasolineline and a casing having an inlet and an outlet connected to the gasoline line, with the top of the casing vented to the atmosphere, a float in said casing, a pilot valve, a main valve, said valves controlling the flow of liquid through said outlet, and connections between said float and said valves to cause the pilot valve to open prior to the opening of .the main valve.

2. In a dispensing system, the combination with a casing havingan inlet port and an outlet port in its lower portion and a vent to the atmosphere in the casing, a main valve for controlling the outlet port, a pilot valve adapted to open prior. to theopeningof the main valve, and connections between said float and said valves to cause the float to first open the pilot valve and let the liquid pressure he equalized on both sides of the main valve before the latter is opened.

3. ma dispensing system, the combination with an air release casing having an inlet port and an outlet port in its lower part and a vent to the atmosphere in its upper portion, .a float. in

said casing, a main valve for said outlet port, a

. valve for controlling the flow of liquid from said outlet port, a pilot valve for said main valve to facilitate opening of the latter, and a float connected to said valves to first open the pilot valve and then the main valve.

5. In a dispensing system, the combination with an air release casing with an air vent in its upper portion and inlet and outlet ports in its lower portion, a main valve for the outlet port, a pilot valve for the main valve, a float within the casing, and connections between said float and said valves to efiect initial lifting of the pilot valve to open a port through the main valve and subsequently lift the main valve to open the outlet port.

6. An apparatus of the class described comprising a supply reservoir, a gas and liquid separator having a constantly open,fixed size, smallbore gas discharge port, and a liquid discharge port, means for posing the liquid from the supply reservoir to said gas and liquid separator,'a standpipe for separating the liquid from the gaspasing throughsaid gas discharge port,

said pipe communicating with the latter port recovered liquid flowing continuously back to the system where it is again passed through the flow '7. A dispensing system for liquids comprising a v gasoline line and a casing having an inlet and an outlet connected to the gasoline line, with the top with a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port in its lower portion and a vent to the atmosphere in the casing, a main valve for controlling the outlet port, a pilot valve adapted to open prior to the opening of the main valve, and 1 connections between said float and said valves to cause the float to first open the pilot valve and let the liquid pressure be equalized on both sides of the main valve before the latter is opened.

9. In a dispensing system, the combination with an air release casing having an inlet port and an outlet port in its lower part and a vent to the atmosphere in its upper portion, a float in said casing, a main valve for said outlet port, a pilot valve at the center of said main valve for controlling a port through the central portion of said main valve, and connections between said float and said valves to open the pilot valve first and-subsequently pick up the main valve and open the same.

10. In a dispensing system, the combination with an air release casing ,having a vent in its top, of a valve for controlling the flow of liquid from said casing, a float in' said casing connected to said valve to operate the same, and means for limiting the upward movement of said float to prevent the same from closing said'vent.

11. In a dispensing system, the combination with an air release casing having an inlet port and an outlet port in its lower portion, a main lower portion; a main valve for the outlet port,

a pilot valve for the main valve, a float within the casing, and connections between said float and said valves to effect initial lifting of the pilot valve to open a port through the main valve and subsequently lift the main valve to open the outlet port. 7

13. In a dispensing system, the combination with a dispensing unit, of an air release, con-v nections for effecting supply of liquid to said dis-' pensing unit through said air release, a shut-off valve for controlling theflow of liquid from said air release to said dispensing unit, a. float in said air release for controlling said shut-oi! valve, means for venting the air release to the atmosphere, and a connection for directing overflow of liquid from said air release back to the source of 14. Liquid delivery apparatus of the character described comprising a liquid flow system including aliquid supply reservoir, and a liquid flow line, leading from said liquid supply reservoir to a V dispensing nozzle, a displacement meter in said line, a gas separator in said line in advance of said meter to remove gases from the liquid delivered through the'meter, said separator comprising a casing forming a chamber having an inlet port connected to the delivery line, said inlet [5 level in said chamber, receiver means associated with said gas discharge port for receiving gas and liquid discharged from the casing through said port, said receiver means serving to separate the gas from the liquid received through said restricted port and having means to vent the gases directly to atmosphere, and having a liquid flow return line back to said liquid flow system.

15. Liquiddelivery apparatus of the character described comprising a liquid flow system including a liquid supply reservoir, a liquid flow line leading from said liquid supply reservoir to a dispensing nozzle, a displacement meter in said line, a gas separator in said line in advance of said meter to remove gases from the liquid delivered to the meter, said separator including a casing forming a chamber having an inlet port connected to the delivery line, said inlet port being disposed in the lower portion of the casing, and said casing having a gas-free liquid discharge port located in the lower portion of said casing, said casing having a restricted discharge port in the upper portion of said casing, and a, plurality of valves for said gas-free discharge port, one of said valves being smaller than the other of said valves, said plurality of valves having a combined area of such extent that the pressure created within said chamber, due to the restricted discharge port, during dispensing is sufficient to hold said valves normally closed, a float disposed within said chamber and being of insuilicient buoyancy to' lift said plurality of valves, said float, however, having suflicient buoyancy to raise the smaller of said valves to permit flow therethrough to equalize the pressure on opposite sides of said other valve whereby to raise both of said valves, receiver means associated with said gas discharge'port for receiving gas and liquid discharged from the casing through said port, said receiver means serving to separate the gas from the liquid received through said restricted port and said receiver means having means to vent the gases directly to atmosphere, and said receiving means having a liquid flow return line back to the liquid flow system.

16. An apparatus of the class described comprising a liquid flow system including a supply reservoir, a gas and liquid separator having a main separator chamber provided with a main liquid discharge port, a flow line connected to' said liquid discharge port, a meter said line, said meter having a dispensing discharge line, means for forcing liquid under pressure from the supply reservoir to said gas and liquid separator and through said meter and dispensing discharge line, means for controlling the liquid flow through said dispensing discharge line, said gas and liquidseparator having also a constantly open but restricted liquid and gas discharge through whichgas and a relatively small volume separating means havlngcommunication with; the atmosphere, and a liquid recovery conduit.

communicating with said additional separating means for returning the restricted flow of liquid back to the system. i

1'7. A liquid delivery apparatus of the character described comprising a liquid flow system including a liquid supply reservoir and a liquid flow line leading from said liquid supply reservoir to a dispensing nozzle, a displacement meter in said line, a gas separator in said line in advance of said meter to remove gases from the liquid delivered through the meter, said separator having a main separator chamber having a main liquid discharge port connected to said flow line, means for forcing liquid under pressure from the supply reservoir to said separator and through said meter and through the dispensing nozzle,

means for controlling the liquid flow through said with the atmosphere at an elevation above that of the separating chamber and means forming a liquid recovery line communicating with said additional gas and liquid separating means for returning the liquid passing through said restricted discharge back tothe system.

18. An apparatus of the class described comprising a liquid flow system including a supply reservoir, a gas and liquid separator having a main separator chamber provided with a main liquid discharge port, a flow line connected to said liquid discharge port, a meter in said line, said meter having a dispensing discharge line,

vmeans for forcing liquid under pressure from the supply reservoir to said gas and liquid sep-- arator and then through said meter and dispensing discharge line, means for controlling the liquid flow through said dispensing discharge line, said gas and liquid separator having also'a constantly open but restricted liquid and gas discharge through which gas and a, relatively small volume of liquid are continuously flowing during dispensing, and an additional gas and liquid separating means connected to said restricted discharge comprising a downwardly extending liquid conduit through which the liquid passing through said restricted port is adapted to flow, said downwardly depending conduit having an upstanding pipe having its upper end disposed above the downwardly depending conduit and above the separating chamber and open to atmosphere, said downwardly extending conduit having a liquid receiving return-pipe connection with the system.

19. A gas and liquid separator having adjacent its lower end an inlet port for liquid mixed with gas and an outlet port for liquid freed from gas, means between the ports for preventing liquid mixed with gas .i'rom having free direct passage to saidcutlet port, and a constantly open,

fixed size; small bore gas and liquid discharge port adjacent the top of the separator, said inlet opening being of relatively very small cross-sectional area as compared to the horizontal crosssectional area of the separator.

20. A liquid dispensing apparatus of the class described including a supply reservoir, a meter, said meter having a dispensing discharge line,

meter and through said dispensing line. a valve controlled nozzle at the end 0! the discharge line, a gas and liquid separator between the'supply reservoir and the meter, s'aid' gas and liquid separator having inlet, outlet and vent openings;

I a vent and stand pipe for further separating any gas and liquid passing through said vent meansi'or passing liquid from the reservoir to the municating 'with said pipe; said separator being characterized in that the inlet opening is adjacent its bottom, is of relatively very small crosssectlonal area as compared to the horizontal ems-sectional area of the separator and is relatively very large as compared with the crosssectional area of the vent opening, said vent openin: being constantly open and of a fixed size and located adjacent the top of the separator.

- CLEMENT P. GRIFFITH. 

